You would be surprised how often we see oversized air conditioners installed in both residential and commercial spaces. It is a relatively easy mistake to make. Most people assume that a bigger air conditioner will be more effective, and not every installer does a cooling load calculation before installing.
It takes a little time, but this calculation is well worth doing and will take into consideration factors like: the size of your house, how many windows you have, and your climate. This will give you a good idea of how much air actually needs to be cooled to keep your home comfortable and it can prevent you from overpaying on both the initial unit and energy costs down the road.
At Galmiche & Sons, our heating & air conditioning services include this kind of consideration before we install your air conditioner, but you might already have an oversized air conditioner.
How to Tell if Your Air Conditioner is Oversized
- Using Too Much Energy: The most telltale sign that you have an oversized air conditioner is a high energy bill. There are a few ways that an oversized air conditioner can contribute to higher energy bills. First, you are using more power than necessary since the motors in an oversized air conditioner are going to be more powerful than necessary. Also, more powerful motors wear out the other components more quickly. So not only are you losing money whenever you run the air conditioner, you are going to spend more on maintenance as well.
- Not Running Long Enough: Another way that an oversized air conditioner can create problems is by turning on and off too frequently. Because there is not enough air to cool, oversized air conditioner units will turn off very quickly after cooling your home. This “short cycling” is bad for your wallet because the motors and other components work harder during the “turn on” phase than while running consistently. So you are using even more power than necessary because the oversized air conditioner doesn’t take time to cool your space. This also impacts the longevity and efficiency of different components in your air conditioner by working them even harder. In the same way that more powerful motors create more wear and tear, frequent startups do too.
- Not Removing Humidity: This sign is related to the problem of not having your AC run long enough. Throughout a normal air cooling cycle, a correctly sized air conditioner removes humidity from the air, creating a more comfortable space. With an oversized air conditioner however, it likely will not run long enough to actually remove humidity, as your home will reach the target temperature before all the air has been processed through.
Contact Galmiche & Sons to Help with Your Air Conditioner Sizing
If you suspect you have an oversized air conditioner for your home, it is important to talk to a heating & cooling professional as soon as possible. They can help you determine if this really is the issue with your unit or if it is something else, and recommend replacement units that more accurately fit your space. To have your heating & air conditioning system reviewed and updated in the greater St. Louis area, get in touch with Galmiche & Sons today. We can help you determine if your AC unit is too big for your space and find a more appropriate replacement to save you money and improve comfort for your home.
